QUICK NEWS, 3-23: NEW ENERGY BEATS NUKES EVERY WAY; SENATORS BRING 25% RENEWABLES STANDARD; A WORLD GROWING SOLAR; CURRENT ENERGY WINS BIG

NEW ENERGY BEATS NUKES EVERY WAY
The nuclear option: Safety concerns are only one big reason wind and solar better
Mark Z. Jacobson, March 20, 2011 (NY Daily News)

"The powerful earthquake and tsunami that caused reactors at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant to shut down - releasing radiation and endangering workers and evacuees - have many Americans asking whether nuclear energy is worth the investment and risk. [As Director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University,] I say not. In fact, it should not have taken a disaster of this kind to move us decisively away from nuclear and
toward safe, clean, renewable energy."

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"First, consider the meltdown. The risk of such a catastrophe is not trivial. In fact, the five reactor meltdowns in history represent more than 1% of the more than 440 nuclear reactors on Earth. Meltdowns can be caused not only by human error and natural disasters, but also by a terrorist with a large plane…[This] is dwarfed by the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, as evidenced by the attempted or actual development of weapons capabilities in Pakistan, India, Iran and to some extent North Korea secretly under the cover of nuclear energy facilities.

"If the world's energy needs were converted to electricity for all purposes - and nuclear supplied such energy - 15,800 large nuclear reactors, one installed every day for the next 43 years, would be needed…[E]ven 5% of these would nearly double the current number of reactors, giving many more countries the potential to develop weapons…[One such weapon] could kill 1 to 16 million people…"

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"Why do we need nuclear energy when we have safer, cleaner options that can provide greater power for a much longer period and at lower cost to society? …[With WWS – wind, water and sunlight – the] chance of catastrophe caused by nature or terrorists…is zero…WWS technologies emit no pollution - whereas nuclear does, since continuous energy is needed to mine, transport and refine uranium, and reactors require much longer to permit and install than do WWS technologies. Overall, nuclear emits 9 to 25 times more air pollution and carbon dioxide than does wind per unit energy generated…"

"Some argue that nuclear is more reliable than WWS systems. This is not true. A nuclear reactor affects a larger fraction of the grid when it fails than does a wind turbine. The average maintenance downtime of modern wind turbines on land is 2%. That of France’s 59 reactors is 21.5% [and only half is scheduled maintenance]…Nuclear power plants most efficiently provide constant power when they are on. But power demand varies continuously. Some WWS options (such as geothermal and tidal) also provide constant output…[O]thers (wind, solar, wave) are variable, and hydroelectricity can be turned on and off quickly…[C]ombining WWS technologies as a single commodity allows power demand to be supplied hour by hour with virtually no backup."

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"…Solar power in sunny locations can power the entire world for all purposes 30 times over; wind in windy locations on or near land can power the world 6 to 15 times over. Only 0.4% more of the entire planet’s physical land would be needed to power everyone, everywhere with WWS…Despite what you may have heard, on-land wind, hydroelectric and geothermal power are cost-competitive with conventional energy. Solar costs are higher but decreasing…[Policy makers] leaning toward nuclear should consider…health and safety… and the scientific method, instead of the trail of lobbyists, when deciding the future of this country…"


SENATORS BRING 25% RENEWABLES STANDARD
New Senate Bill Contains 25 Percent Renewable Energy Standard; U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduced legislation this week that includes a 25 percent renewable energy standard among other strong provisions for domestic alternative energy.
March 18, 2011 (Sustainable Business via Reuters)

"The Securing America's Future with Energy and Sustainable Technologies (SAFEST) Act would establish renewable energy and energy-efficiency standards…"

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"…[T]he legislation would establish…[1] New incentives for biofuels infrastructure and deployment…[2] An extension of tax credits for ethanol and biodiesel that the Senators say would reward efficient producers and be more cost-effective…

"…[3] A renewable electricity standard of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025…[4] An energy-efficiency resource standard (1 percent per year)…"

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"...[And, 5] Targets for the availability of advanced vehicle technologies including hybrid, electric, and flex-fuel vehicles…

"The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates that the national energy-efficiency resource standard in the bill would create energy bill savings of more than $150 billion by 2020 and save enough energy to power approximately one-third of all households in the United States. Recent studies indicate that the renewable electricity standard in the bill could create more than 250,000 new cleantech jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10 percent."

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"The SAFEST bill has been endorsed by the National Farmers Union, Growth Energy, National Association of Energy Service Companies, American Soybean Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and the National Biodiesel Board."


A WORLD GROWING SOLAR
Global PV Market Reached 18.2 GW Last Year, But Slower Growth Expected
17 March 2011 (Solar Industry)

"Worldwide solar photovoltaic market installations reached a record high of 18.2 GW in 2010, [a growth of 139% over the previous year] according to a new report issued by solar energy consultancy Solarbuzz…

"The PV industry generated $82 billion in global revenues in 2010, up 105% year over year from $40 billion in 2009. Companies throughout the PV chain successfully raised more than $10 billion in equity and debt…"

Growth has been even faster than the forecast (click to enlarge)

"In 2010, the top five countries by PV market size were Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Japan and the U.S. - representing over 80% of global demand. European countries represented 14.7 GW, or 81% of world demand in 2010…The top three countries in Europe were Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, which collectively totaled 12.9 GW. In 2010, the Japanese and U.S. markets grew by 101% and 96%, respectively. In all, over 100 countries made some contribution to soaring global PV demand…

"Worldwide solar cell production reached 20.5 GW in 2010, up from 9.86 GW a year earlier, with thin film production accounting for 13.5% of total production. Producers in China and Taiwan continued to build share and now account for 59% of global cell production, up from 49% last year…The top two cell manufacturers in 2010 were Suntech Power and JA Solar, which tied for the first position, followed closely by JA Solar and First Solar."

Not all the production leaders are adding new capacity (click to enlarge)

"The top eight polysilicon manufacturers had 145,200 tonnes per annum of capacity in 2010, while the top eight wafer manufacturers accounted for 45% of global wafer supply. The excess of production over market demand caused crystalline silicon factory gate module prices to drop 14% in 2010, significantly less than the 38% reduction of the previous year…

"By 2015, Solarbuzz projects the European market share will fall to between 45% and 54% as the North American and several Asian markets grow rapidly. The U.S. will be the fastest-growing major country market over this period. Over the next five years, factory gate module prices are projected to drop between 37% and 50% from 2010 levels."


CURRENT ENERGY WINS BIG
Hydrovolts Wins Imagine H2O Prize, Latest in Industry Recognitions
March 21, 2011 (Hydrovolts)

"Hydrovolts Inc., producer of innovative hydrokinetic turbines for renewable energy generation, won First Place [among 50 companies] in the Imagine H2O Water-Energy Nexus Prize, adding one more industry accolade for its solid business model and marketable technology…"

[Burt Hamner, CEO, Hydrovolts:] “This prize underscores…Hydrovolts’ enormous market potential to produce electricity from slow-moving water systems, such as irrigation canals, and deliver clean electricity to farms, businesses and consumers nearby…Canals are an untapped energy resource, and they are essentially the same around the world so we expect to expand our impact rapidly…”

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"Imagine H2O’s judging panel featured many of the water sector’s leading experts. The top 10 finalists are rewarded with access to Imagine H2O’s Accelerator program where they are provided industry expert mentors and professional services. The judges evaluated all business plan entries based on commercial viability…

"Hydrovolts wins $20,000 in cash from prize sponsors, and $30,000 in professional services from the attorneys at Cooley LLP and the accountants at PwC. Both firms have significant clean tech and energy practices…[T]he firms will help Hydrovolts establish its California market presence, apply for state-based renewable energy incentives, meet potential investors, and create an advisory group of state experts and investors."

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"Hydrovolts currently is manufacturing a prototype 25 kW hydrokinetic turbine with an initial investment by DLZ Corp., U.S.-based civil engineering firm, for testing in the Chilla Canal in India. DLZ has indicated it could order an additional 400 turbines and place them in the canal leading up to the traditional hydropower plant. Hydrovolts estimates that 400 turbines will sell for about $20 million…

"The company recently closed its first financing round which was over-subscribed by angel and corporate investors. Hydrovolts has collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Washington, the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems…[It] has won several awards…[and] become popular on the venture capital exhibition circuit…"